"Italy is at a crossroads: it can confirm itself among the the European leaders of the bioLNG supply chain and ride the expected growth of the sector whose full potential can be seen today or let other countries reap the benefits of the strategic and infrastructural work carried out by our companies in less than 15 years". This is the message addressed to the government by the Italian LNG industry launched by Assogasliquidi in Ecomondo, the event on the green and circular economy in course in Rimini.

On the occasion of the debate entitled "Competitiveness of bioLNG in heavy road and maritime transport: the commitment of companies and enabling factors", at the stand of Federchimica, Assogasliquidi, which represents companies producers, importers, and distributors of LPG and LNG, has highlighted that, while the private sector has already invested 300 million euros to create a distribution network of over 180 points of sale (European leader) and can count on one of the The continent's most advanced biomethane supply chains thanks also to to public resources and PNRR investments, Italy, however, paradoxically risks not benefiting from the economic value and generated by these investments and the difficulty to certify bioLNG according to ETS schemes, to the benefit of other foreign markets, and for the growing share of bioLNG produced in Italy destined for other European markets, in particular the Germany, where more favourable economic conditions exist for its use.

The association explained that at the basis of this differential competitive favorable for Germany there is the THG-Quote, system that obliges operators who release for consumption fossil fuels to progressively reduce gas emissions associated with the fuels marketed and which it exploits in the bioLNG molecule. Operators subject to can fulfil the obligation by placing fuels on the market renewable or with lower emission intensity, or by acquiring by other operators the certified emission reductions and recognised by the system. This creates a structural demand for Low-emission fuels and economic value per tonne of CO2 avoided.

"It is - clarified Costantino Amadei, president of the Assogasliquidi's LNG Group - of a mechanism that contributes to reduce the final price of bioLNG which rewards products with the lower carbon intensity, such as bioLNG obtained from wastewater livestock and agricultural by-products. In Germany, the product costs up to three times less than in Italy. Measures are needed to stop the investment flight".

According to Assogasliquidi, the valuation differential of the bioLNG compared to the German market risks compromising the economic sustainability of the Italian distribution network of LNG and penalise national operators in accessing the markets higher value, in particular those of maritime transport and heavy road traffic.

To prevent the economic value generated by incentives is transferred abroad, Assogasliquidi proposes a technical discussion to strengthen the competitiveness of bioLNG and build an internal demand capable of enhancing the national production: a CO2 valorisation system avoided, capable of rewarding bioLNG at the time of consumption, on the in the wake of the best European experiences.

On the regulatory level, the association urges a simplification of certification procedures to allow the bioLNG produced in Italy to be recognized and valued in the different European decarbonisation schemes: in the EU ETS for the maritime transport, in ETS2 for uses in the and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation. These are separate mechanisms, which adopt accounting and certification requirements not always coinciding.

The association also calls for a greater enhancement of the bioLNG with negative carbon intensity, i.e. produced by raw materials and processes that, considering the entire cycle of and avoided emissions can determine a balance of emission less than zero, and the overcoming of some constraints that limit the development of the national market.

Assogasliquidi then urges the issuance of the implementing decree of the €590 million fund, already allocated with the Interministerial Decree of 24 October 2025 on the renewal of the fleet of road haulage companies in the period 2027-2031. The association asks that at least 25% of the resources be reserved to LNG and bioLNG-powered vehicles, with non- less than 40,000 euros per vehicle.

With respect to the ongoing discussion on the 2027 budget law, Assogasliquidi underlines the need to extend the provisions envisaged for the incentive of biomethane production also uses in the transport sector. In particular, it considers that the introduction of a tax credit for the Employment-related costs incurred by road haulage companies of LNG, with a strong reward in the case of the purchase of bioLNG, as well as the provision of special concessions on motorway tolls for LNG and bioLNG powered vehicles and incentives for the purchase of vehicles disbursed directly in the form of discount on the invoice.

In addition, the association highlights how it is simultaneously urgent need to revise the Regulation at EU level 2019/1242 on CO2 emissions from heavy goods vehicles for recognise the contribution of renewable fuels, introducing the category of vehicles powered exclusively by fuels certified under RED III, excluded from the calculation of average fleet emissions, and a reassessment of the targets at the in light of the actual market conditions. Assogasliquidi asks also particular attention to the Italian government and, in particular to the Ministry of the Environment, as part of the review process that is leading the European Commission to review the regulation of EU 2022/996 and related technical annexes to the RED directive, to safeguard the virtual liquefaction service offered by Italian regasification terminals.

The association believes that the European and national debate on the Future renewable energy regulatory framework after 2030 represents an opportunity to be seized to build also in Italy instruments capable of supporting the competitiveness of the bioLNG, promoting the decarbonisation of heavy transport and strengthen a strategic supply chain already present in the area national level. "We risk - denounces the association - to give away to others the value of a supply chain built with investments public and private sectors among the most advanced in Europe. Today it is necessary to complete this path with tools capable of enhance the environmental benefit of the renewable fuel, preventing investment, production and competitive advantages are transferred abroad".